I post this in response to several other threads on the forums which seem to be promoting voting for a political party in a secular state. It is only fair that the other side of the coin is looked at as well. Any comments etc are welcome.

If a Jew, Christian, or Muslim, were to cast a vote in a national election in a modern secular state, that vote would imply that he considered that party he voted for to be fit to govern over him. And if that party as government committed or commits Shirk, Kufr, Dhulm and Fisq, then the implication would be that the Jew, Christian, or Muslim, would follow his Party and his Government into Shirk, Kufr, Dhulm and Fisq!

The Qur'an has also denounced as Shirk the act of making Halal whatever Allah had made Haram (and vice-versa).
Thus revelation came down from the God of Abraham ('alaihi al-Salam) in which He denounced Jews and Christians of such a monstrous sin:

"They took their Priests and Rabbis as Lord-Gods beside Allah; and (they did this in respect of) the Messiah, the son of Mary (as well). But they were not ordered other than to worship and serve one God. Glory is to Him. He is far and above the Shirk which they commit."
(Qur'an, al-Taubah, 9:31)

When the Jews acted in this way, David ('alaihi al -Salam) and Jesus ('alaihi al -Salam) cursed them:
"Curses were pronounced on those among Banu Israil who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary, because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses. They did not enforce the prohibition of that which was sinful and evil which they committed: evil indeed were the deeds which they did." (Qur'an, al-Maidah, 5:78-9)

Whoever dies with a curse of a Prophet upon them have no chance whatsoever of ever escaping from the burning flames of the hellfire! In fact it is the height of
hypocrisy for a people to declare that they worship the God of Abraham and to then proceed to legalize that which He had made illegal, and to prohibit that which He had made permissible:

"The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: they enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse."
(Qur'an, al-Taubah, 9:67)

If it were an act of Shirk when Priests and Rabbis made Halal that which Allah
declared to be Haram, then it would also be an act of Shirk when a government does the same thing now. And if it earned the curses of Prophets at that time, it would do the same now!

Now the usual method of approach for studying this subject is to weigh the 'pros' and 'cons' of participation by believers in the electoral politics of the modern secular state. The defenders of the secular state wax eloquently about its merits. Some argue:

"If we do not participate in electoral politics then we will have no political
representation - no one to struggle for our rights." At a more serious level of thought another argument is raised: "Participation in electoral politics is the necessary condition for any successful struggle to change the godless political system." The matter of Shirk is addressed by way of a subterfuge: "We will participate in elections but will do so on the basis of a public stand that we do not accept the secular constitution and the secular state which it preserves. This escape clause will protect us from Shirk."

Our response is to point out that participation in electoral politics in a secular state ipso facto signifies acceptance of the secular character of the state. The secular state makes the same declaration that Pharaoh made to Moses ('alaihi al-Salam). That declaration is: The state is sovereign. Its authority is supreme. Its law is supreme. That is Shirk! When people vote in elections in a secular state they thereby accept the claim of the state to be sovereign. They accept its claim to supreme authority, and they accept its law to be the supreme law. When believers vote in such elections, therefore, they cannot escape from committing Shirk.

Secondly, when believers vote in elections in a secular state they have to vote for a political party. If that party, as government, declared to be Halal what the God of Abraham, Most High, made Haram, or enforced laws as such, then that government committed Shirk. Around the world today governments and parliaments of secular states have already declared Halal nearly everything that Allah declared to be Haram.

When believers cast their votes for such political parties and governments that have already committed Shirk upon Shirk, such votes would imply acceptance of such people as fit to govern over them. Thus believers follow them into Shirk, Kufr, Dhulm and Fisq!

Thirdly, this method constitutes a violation and an abandonment of the Sunnah of the Blessed Prophet of Islam (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam).

Political parties and governments around the world today are comprised of those who disdainfully persist in declaring Halal that which Allah declared to be Haram.

When a people disdainfully persist in Haram they pay a dreadful price. It is as plain as daylight that the modern secular world is already paying precisely that price. What is it?

"….and then, when they disdainfully persisted in doing what they had been forbidden to do, We said to them (i.e., We ordained for them) Be as apes despicable!"
(Qur'an, al'Araf, 7:166)

Whilst political/religious pluralism along the lines of the Methaaq of Medinah is an acceptable solution, few democratic, secular constitutions make provision for this.

I do believe that Moulana Imran spent some time with the governemnt of Trinidad & Tabago, his home country, to propose constitutional reform along these lines. I am unsure about the progress he made in this regard.

Every year in England, we the Muslims are split on the issue of: “whether it is permissible or not to vote for man made laws” I ask this question as to whether it is permissible to vote for other then Allah’s laws, and does this lead to taghoot or shirk?

Are we only allowed to follow the shariah? The main argument is weather or not we are allowed to participate in this voting process?

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
The process of voting in non-Muslim democratic countries is not based on religious ideologies neither are elections won and lost on the basis of religion. As such, a candidate that stands up in an election does not promise to implement the laws of Islam or any other religion for that matter.

Normally a candidate promises the public better services and facilities. These services may also be connected to a particular religion, like promising Muslims financial assistance for the construction of Masjids, and so on.

Therefore, to vote a particular candidate or party in non-Muslim countries will be permissible and not considered a sin or Kufr. When one votes for a party, it does not necessarily mean that one agrees completely with their beliefs and ideologies, rather the intention is that the candidate (or party) will be of help to the whole community.

In light of the above, it becomes clear that to vote in itself is not something that is impermissible. However, the following should be kept in mind.

Voting in a way is giving a testimony in favour of the person/party whom one is voting. The way false testimony is a major sin, to vote in favour of a candidate that one knows is not worthy will also be unlawful and a major sin.

Allah Most High says:

“Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those whom they are due.” (Surah al-Nisa, 58)

He also says:

“When you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned.” (al-An’am, 152)

And:

“And shun the word that is false.” (al-Hajj, 30)

Bearing false testimony has been considered one of the major sins. Imam Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) included bearing false testimony in his famous book al-Kaba’ir, and then related the following Hadith:

When one is giving his vote, he is actually giving testimony on the fact that the candidate (or party) is trustworthy in his beliefs and actions, and better than the other candidates.

In a situation where there is no worthy candidate (as in non-Muslim countries, where at least the ideologies and beliefs of the relevant parties are contrary to the teachings of Islam), then the vote should be given to the one who is the better and more trustworthy than the other candidates.

Therefore, to give a vote on the purely basis of personal connections, family relationship, and the like (when one is aware that the one given the vote is not worthy) will be considered impermissible.

Vote should be given to the candidate that one believes will give people their rights, prevent oppression, and so on.

“If people see an oppressor and don’t prevent him, then it is very likely that Allah will include all of them in the punishment.” (Sunan Tirmidhi & Sunan Abu Dawud)

Therefore, if you see open oppression and transgression, and despite having the capability of preventing this oppression by giving your vote, you don’t do so, then in the light of this Hadith you will be sinful.

In another Hadith it is stated:

“If a believer is being humiliated in front of a individual, and he despite having the capability of preventing this humiliation, abstains from doing so, Allah will him humiliate him (on the day of resurrection) in the presence of all the creation.” (Jam al-Fawa’id, 2/51)

In conclusion, voting is not something that is impermissible. If it is thought that a particular candidate or party will be of benefit to the general public in their day-to-day affairs, then the vote should be given to him. And by voting a particular party, it will not be considered that one agrees with all their ideologies and beliefs.

And Allah knows best

Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

jinnzaman

25-04-2007, 07:24 AM

http://z14.invisionfree.com/Shield_of_Islam/index.php?showtopic=121

mogamadza

25-04-2007, 09:58 AM

"They took their Priests and Rabbis as Lord-Gods beside Allah; and (they did this in respect of) the Messiah, the son of Mary (as well). But they were not ordered other than to worship and serve one God. Glory is to Him. He is far and above the Shirk which they commit."
(Qur'an, al-Taubah, 9:31)

‘Uday said: “They did not worship them”. He (the Prophet) replied: “Yes they did. They (the Rabbis and Priests) made what was Halal into Haram for them, and what was Haram into Halal for them, and they (the people) followed them; that was their worshipping them”.

With respect to the learned Ulemah, I find it strange that none of the contrary positions even mention this Ayah and Hadith!

Colonel_Hardstone

25-04-2007, 10:05 AM

Asslamo Allaikum Brother,

I beleive that these Ulama have issued these Fatawa for Muslims living as Non-Muslim minority in lands of Kuffar; so it can be interpreted as reducing the harm to Muslims and gaining some benefit as getting approvals for Mosques/Islamic Schools etc.

With respect to Muslim countries then with the utmost respect to Ulama who declare voting to be permissable (& I am no one to argue about the permissability):

There is NO chance that we can establish Islam through democracy; there is more chance of HELL FREEZING over!

Islam WILL only come through following the Sunnah and DEMOCRAZY has no part in it!

"They took their Priests and Rabbis as Lord-Gods beside Allah; and (they did this in respect of) the Messiah, the son of Mary (as well). But they were not ordered other than to worship and serve one God. Glory is to Him. He is far and above the Shirk which they commit."
(Qur'an, al-Taubah, 9:31)

‘Uday said: “They did not worship them”. He (the Prophet) replied: “Yes they did. They (the Rabbis and Priests) made what was Halal into Haram for them, and what was Haram into Halal for them, and they (the people) followed them; that was their worshipping them”.

With respect to the learned Ulemah, I find it strange that none of the contrary positions even mention this Ayah and Hadith!

mogamadza

25-04-2007, 10:11 AM

I beleive that these Ulama have issued these Fatawa for Muslims living as Non-Muslim minority in lands of Kuffar; so it can be interpreted as reducing the harm to Muslims and gaining some benefit as getting approvals for Mosques/Islamic Schools etc.

As funding and permission for Masjids are usually taken on a local level, I wonder what the position would be on voting in a Municipal election - i.e a local election for someone who would be improving services etc and not making laws

Islam WILL only come through following the Sunnah and DEMOCRAZY has no part in it!

LOL Democrazy! I like it :)

Sunni_Student786

01-05-2007, 10:47 PM

It's good to know of the other side.

The issue of voting is also, unfortunately, becoming yet another litmus test issue in the West among Muslims for determining who is a "Traditional Muslim" and who is not.

laughinglion

01-05-2007, 11:01 PM

:salam:

By this standard, does it not equally mean that those who passively live under such kafir governments are equally commiting shirk in that they are silently complicit in the acts/legislation of such governments?

with peace

Sunni_Student786

02-05-2007, 03:22 AM

:salam:

By this standard, does it not equally mean that those who passively live under such kafir governments are equally commiting shirk in that they are silently complicit in the acts/legislation of such governments?

with peace

I was thinking that as well.

mogamadza

02-05-2007, 11:22 AM

By this standard, does it not equally mean that those who passively live under such kafir governments are equally committing shirk in that they are silently complicit in the acts/legislation of such governments?

Was Ebrahiems(a.s), Moosa (a.s), Mogammad(s.a.w) commiting shirk while they were living under the pagan/idolworshiping rulers?

If you see something wrong, change it with your hands, if you cannot, speak out against it and if you cannot, then detest it in your heart -but this is the weakest form of emaan

We think that what they are doing is wrong, we are speaking out against it and we are actively working on a response to it.

The response is that of the Muslim village or Micro Caliphate as some call it, which comes directly out of Surah Khaf - which begins by telling us about some youths who, in order to preserve their faith, took refuge in a cave to escape the godlessness of the society they found themselves in.

http://www.imranhosein.org/content/view/61/27/

The follow-up to this translation and commentary - Surah Khaf in the Modern Age (350 pages) will be published later this year and launched in Cape Town, South Africa around December 2007 Insha Allah.